My research probes the status of processes in phonology by examining noniterative and optional processes. These are revealing phenomena because requiring noniterativity and optional process application seems to require processes to be explicit, formal entities in our theories. By eschewing processes as formal constructs, OT seems to be handicapped when it comes to noniterativity and optionality. I argue that OT is in fact on solid ground on these fronts: truly noniterative processes don't exist in the first place (see my dissertation), and I am developing a framework that allows OT to capture the full range of optional processes (see this poster).

This spring I am teaching Introduction to Language and Intermediate Phonetics and Phonology in the Linguistics Department at the University of Utah.

If you're looking for Abby Kaplan, you can find her here.